Do you ever find yourself wondering, “Why am I trying to become more productive?” Think about it… It doesn’t matter how fast you move if it’s in a pointless direction.

Truthfully, there really is no requirement that says you must develop a personal vision. In fact, many people prefer to just wing it. Here’s the problem: if you never decide on a vision, you might just find yourself living someone else’s ideal life rather than your own.

You need a destination to move forward. Vision gives you day-to-day direction and purpose. If you see the big picture of what and where you want to be in life, you’ll know what you need to do daily. Your vision for tomorrow will determine your to-do list for today. It inspires you to stay focused.

Take a moment and picture yourself fulfilling your personal vision. Write it down like it is happening in this exact moment.

Who are you with? What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Where are you? How are you making a difference?

You Don’t Have to “Get Rich” or “Find Your Passion”

Maybe you didn’t “find your passion” in a career, but you raise wonderful children, juggle all the proverbial balls in your household, volunteer, and selflessly give of yourself to others. That’s SO important and life changing for those who are lucky enough to feel your impact.

Maybe you didn’t “get rich” like so many people who feel the need to chase financial wealth, but you make a marked difference in other people’s lives every single day. That’s incredible and vital to our society. Don’t underestimate the power of purpose over collecting a bigger paycheck.

The First Draft

If you don’t see your vision right now, that’s OK. Today, you’re simply getting started on your journey with the first draft of your ever-evolving life plan. Whatever you create today can change over time as you grow and develop.

What do people with considerable financial means aspire to accomplish? Oprah’s Winfrey’s vision: “To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” Richard Branson’s vision: “To have fun in my journey through life and learn from my mistakes.” For most of us, it’s about learning and giving, all about a bigger purpose. My own vision: “To move people from frustrated to fulfilled.”

How to Use YOUR Vision

Like you, I have a lot of things to do, a lot of ideas in my head, and a lot of people telling me what they think I should be doing. This is exactly why my focused vision is so important… it helps me to plan my week, focus on my priorities, and say no.

For example, people regularly say to me, “You should just do your professional speaking and quit your day job.” Important! My response that follows is entirely based on being mindful of my personal vision… moving people from frustrated to fulfilled.

My answer, “No. First, being in the trenches as a manager helps me to relate and understand other people’s frustrations. Second, I can’t help other people to live a fulfilled life if I’m not doing the same. I enjoy my day job as the Director of People & Service at the Wisconsin Athletic Club as much as I love speaking and writing. It completes my fulfillment portfolio.

You see. Your vision is just that — YOURS — you get to decide, create, and execute it. YOU get to choose what makes your life feel whole.

It’s Not Too Late

Last year, I had the privilege to be the speaker at a senior luncheon. For weeks leading up to the event, I was questioning myself, “What in the world will I teach such experienced, successful people? Shouldn’t the roles should be reversed?”

During the event, my perspective quickly changed. I had a line of people coming up to me saying things like, “I’ve been stuck since I retired. I needed this today and will decide what I want my legacy to be.” “When I was growing up, we never talked about our reason to wake up in the morning.” “I’ve never thought about my personal vision before.”

Too often, we believe the false stories of our fears, which leads to blurry vision. The fuzzier the target, the harder it is to hit. Be your age and proud of where you are in life! It’s never too late to become the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with.

ACTION: Whatever your personal vision is, I want to see it happen. What one step will you take this week toward realizing your vision? Don’t do it alone. Make a list of coworkers, friends, family members, or mentors who can help you to fulfill your vision.